Many people were intensely curious about “Casino Royale,” the most recent James Bond movie, when it was released theatrically late in 2006. But except for some diehards who bristled at the idea of a colder and blond 007, most people were pleased by the movie. Certainly I was.

In terms of the movie itself, based on watching this brand-new Blu-ray disc, there’s little to add to that review in terms of discussing “Casino Royale” as a movie. The film is a bit lopsided—there are two sensational action scenes in the first half, then none until the finale, set in Venice. At 144 minutes, the movie is probably somewhat too long; this is not helped by seeming to end completely about fifteen minutes before it actually does. And it passed my notice altogether the first time around that a bit of dialogue brings up a question, even a concept, that none of the other Bond movies have dealt with: who were his parents?

The Bond movies have generally been class acts, and have been released on video in every format. Among videophiles, in fact, there’s a joking question about the increasing number of such formats: “How many times do I have to buy ‘Goldfinger’?” That classic was released in beta flat, beta wide, VHS flat, VHS wide, laserdisc flat, laserdisc wide, etc. etc. While “Casino Royale” won’t have to parade through that menu of formats, it has appeared in both standard and high-definition, the latter in the form of this excellent Blu-Ray disc collector's edition.

The film itself was made to very high standards, and they are showcased in the extreme clarity of the disc. Some aspects even look better—in theaters, the title sequence designed by Daniel Kleinman seemed well-designed but a bit drab, but in high definition, it’s amazing—crisp, detailed, sharp and witty. It’s not up to the level of the best such sequences by Maurice Binder in title sequences of earlier 007 adventures, but it’s classy and a brisk little movie in itself.

The amazing opening foot chase down alleys, through construction sites, up walls and along towering cranes seems even more exciting and vertiginous in high definition than it did on screen. This is an illusion, however, probably the result of seeing such a dynamic sequence right there in your living room.

The sequences featuring mud are nicely squidgy and gooey—the mud looks
slimy and slippery, just as (typical of high def) greens pop off the
screen. When Craig does his Ursula Andress scene of emerging from the
Caribbean, you can see the individual drops on his sculptured torso.
(Craig worked out for a year to get his original somewhat slender body
into full James Bond shape.) For reasons that elude me, it’s easier to
notice that Le Chiffre has mismatched eyes on the home video screen
than it was in the theatrical release.

The sound is excellent, just what the film requires, and is mastered
well enough that it can be cranked to satisfyingly deafening volumes
without distortion or loss of detail. And because “Casino Royale” is a
relatively expensive movie, all other technical details are
first-class, too. The only difference is that the previous release of
this film on Blu-ray contained an Uncompressed Pcm track. This release
now contains a Dolby TrueHD 5.1. Bit for bit, there is no difference
between the two tracks. If you hear a difference, then it is due to
your decoder.

[Written by AVRev] [START]
My only grip with the bonus materials the last time is that thre was no
audio commentary with the director. This go around contains two new
commentaries. There is an audio commentary with crew members, led by
producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. The only problem
with this commentary is that you never have any idea who is speaking.
The second commentary is a picture-in-picture function commentary with
a sit down interview with director Martin Campbell. Some of the
information becomes redundant with the featurettes, but it is still a
worthy commentary.
[END]

Returning from the previous Blu-ray release of "Casino Royale" is
“Becoming Bond,” a fairly standard making-of publicity piece, but it
does include mention of the previous two versions of “Casino Royale.”
It doesn’t discuss the fact that the Fleming novel was his first 007
outing, or how Bond evolved from the book to the screen. This is
useful, however, to see what Daniel Craig is really like. He clearly
isn’t the controlled, steel-jawed Bond we see on screen, but a more
relaxed, amiable type, funny and relaxed. Also returning is “James Bond
for Real," another standard making-of featurette, focusing on the
effects and stunts. Among those interviewed are effects expert Chris
Corbould, stunt coordinator Gary Powell and Craig’s stunt double, Ben
Cooke. This is a relatively interesting little documentary.

But the highlight among the returning extras is the (standard
definition) featurette, “Bond Girls Are Forever.” This was made in 2002
by a Canadian company for American Movie Classics, but has been
slightly altered since it was first telecast; just how it was changed
is unclear. But it’s a surprisingly detailed and well-produced
featurette of the type that could so easily have been a throwaway puff
piece. It’s hosted (and co-written) by Maryam d’Abo, a Bond girl from
“Living Daylights” (Timothy Dalton as 007). She and the camera team
travel around Europe and the U.S. interviewing veteran “Bond Girls,”
including Urusula Andress, Honor Blackman (in her 80s, white-haired by
still striking), Luciana Paluzzi, Jill St. John, Jane Seymour, Maud
Adams (twice a Bond girl), Lois Chiles, Cary Lowell, Samantha Bond and
Rosamund Pike. Even Judi Dench, a Bond woman if there ever was one,
gets in a few words. Diana Rigg and Britt Ekland are neither
interviewed nor mentioned, though Rigg’s character from “On Her
Majesty’s Secret Service” is alluded to.

[Written by AVRev] [START]
There are five new featurettes to this release, all on disc two. "The
Road to Casino Royale" looks back at Ian Fleming's original story.
"Ian Fleming's Incredible Creation" is another look at Fleming's work.
"Bond in the Bahamas" takes a look at the location for this section of
the film. "Ian Fleming: The Secret Road to Paradise" is very redundant
of the previous three featurettes. Lastly, "Death in Venice" features
interviews from both Daniel Craig and Eva Green.

Also new to this release are four never before seen deleted scenes.
However, nothing to get in a tizzy over. Rounding out the rest of the
bonus materials are "The Art of the Freerun," "Catching a Plane: From
Storyboard to Screen," "Storyboard Sequence – Freerun Chase," Filmmaker
Profiles, Theatrical trailers (not of "Casino Royale"), and a music
video – "You Know My Name." There are some BD-Live features also
available.
[END]

Overall, this Blu-Ray disc is an ideal way to own this spectacular,
exciting—if too long—James Bond adventure. Make up your own mind if
Daniel Craig is an acceptable Bond, James Bond. For me, he does just
fine.